Environment & Poverty Times No.7

Water management and resource efficiency for green growth in East Asia is the focus of Issue 7 of Environment & Poverty Times. Jointly prepared by GRID-Arendal and UNEP’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, examines inspiring examples and stories implemented by businesses, communities, governments and organisations in the region, highlighting such themes as water footprint, the use of water for industrial purposes, water pollution and community based initiatives. This publication was prepared as an outreach activity under the East Asia Climate Partnership, a project funded by the Korean International Cooperation Agency.

Water stress and water management
More than 2.8 billion people are projected to face water stress or water scarcity by 2025. Are we heading for a freshwater crisis, and what can be done to prevent it?

Industrial use of freshwater
The use of freshwater resources for industrial purposes is an area where there is ample room for
efficiency gains, and where improvements are now happening faster than in other regions of the world.

Water for manufacturing
The use of water for manufacturing creates increased competition between water users and other demands. In many cases it can also lead to pollution and ecosystem degradation. There is a need for solutions to challenges such as water recycling, sanitation and water efficiency.

Water pollution and sanitation
Water pollution and sanitation have huge repercussions both for local ecosystems and humans. We featurepossible solutions, opportunities and creative action.

Community based initiatives
Community based initiatives focus on behavioural change needed to ensure real and sustainable improvements. The ideal is local solutions leading to improved sustainability.

Water security
Water security will soon rank with other main security concerns. The world community must elevate the issue of water for peace policy.

Water security in Asia
Climate change, melting glaciers, contaminated water and water intensive industry and agriculture are some of the threats to water security in Asia in the future. But action is taken in local communities, by nations and regions